FOI Request - PAT and CCTV and Radioactive Source Testing in Moray Schools
Request 101003790186
PAT, CCTV and Radioactive Source Testing in Moray Schools
1. Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) Frequency and Details
a) The frequency of PAT testing (e.g., annual, biennial) for each school managed by Moray Council, listed individually by school name.
b) The most recent PAT testing results, itemised for each school, itemised by:
o School name
o Date of the latest PAT test
o Total number of appliances tested
o Detailed results of tests to show they were undertaken properly (this should be available via the contractor's database).
2. Cost of PAT Testing Contracts
a) The total cost of PAT testing contracts for all Moray schools over the past two years (from May 2023 to May 2025).
b) A breakdown of these costs including:
o The name of the contractor(s) or service provider(s)
o The annual cost for each year (2023–2024 and 2024–2025)
o Any additional costs (e.g., repairs, retesting, or administrative fees) associated with PAT testing.
c) If the contract is part of a broader facilities management agreement, please isolate the PAT testing component or provide details of the relevant portion.
3. CCTV Camera Systems in Moray Schools
a) The number of CCTV cameras installed in each school (listed individually by school name).
b) The brand and model of the CCTV system used in each school.
c) The medium used to store or reproduce CCTV data (e.g., cloud storage, local hard drive, DVR, NVR, floppy disk, USB) for each school.
d) If applicable, the name of the contractor or service provider responsible for maintaining or operating the CCTV systems and who is responsible for RIPSA compliance.
4. Radioactive Source Leak Detection and Testing in High Schools
a) For each high school managed by Moray Council, provide details of radioactive source leak detection and testing conducted over the past five years (from May 2020 to May 2025), itemised by:
o School name
o Dates of all leak detection tests conducted
o Types of radioactive sources tested (e.g., specific isotopes such as Cobalt-60, Americium-241, Strontium-90).
o Results of each test (e.g., pass, fail, or any detected leaks).
o Details of any remedial actions taken if leaks were detected.
b) If applicable, the name of the contractor or service provider responsible for conducting these tests as well as certification.
c) Confirmation of compliance with relevant regulations (e.g., Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 or Scottish Environment Protection Agency requirements) for each test.
Response 17-06-2025
1. Attached spreadsheet provides information relating to this request - School name, date of the latest PAT test, total number of appliances tested and failure results.
a) Last year the school portable appliance testing was carried out over the easter, summer and autumn holidays. To simplify matters in future, all portable appliance testing in schools will take place during summer holidays. While adjusting to this new cycle, some schools will be tested earlier and some later. This may result in, during switchover, some test periods exceeding the current 12 months normally used by Moray Council; this is not statutory. The Electricity at Work Regulations does not prescribe how often equipment should be assessed for electrical safety, so this one-off exceeding of a one-year test interval does not breach any Health and Safety regulations.
b) The attached spreadsheet is provided by the contractor with a pass fail, however if it is noted as a failure, they detail on the report why it failed. The contractor will undertake Risk Assessments - Method Statements on how they conduct and carry out the testing. In the event of a failure the site is tasked to dispose of the failed equipment.
2. The attached spreadsheet (as per 1.) provides information relating to this request – school and contractor/responsible organisation that undertook PAT testing.
a) 23/24 – Portable appliance testing £5,346.21
24/25 - Portable Appliance Tests - £6,175.33
The PAT activity only tests it does not repair or retest and there are no additional costs.
The costs provided relate to the school estate only
3. a) Spreadsheet data attached
b) Not all cameras are currently registered, as such each camera in a school may need to be checked, which would involve staff visually inspecting cameras. This task would take in excessive of 40 hours, as some cameras are in difficult locations to check. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (excessive cost), we are therefore unable to comply with this part of the request.
Please note that we are already working with a contractor to compile this information and plan to complete a CCTV camera review over the summer; it will be conducted as part of onsite servicing.
c) Local NVRs and local hard drives.
d) Bartec maintain the CCTV systems.
Please note that RIPSA is separate from standard CCTV use; RIPSA information is in the public domain on the Council’s website. This information is therefore exempt under section 25 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, information otherwise accessible. For ease of reference please find a link to the web page here:
http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_67810.html (RIPSA - Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act - Moray Council) and a list of responsible posts is available here: file81360.pdf
4.a) & b) Spreadsheet data attached.
c) All schools have sent staff on the mandatory SSERC course in March except for Buckie who have booked on the course in August 2025. Testing frequencies are recommendations rather than mandatory, and all sources have been tested within an acceptable time frame. SSERC are our Radiation Protection Advisers, and they are happy with our current standing.